NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC “LION” — AN EPIC FOUR-PART EVENT SERIES THAT FOLLOWS A CUB’S EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY TO BECOME A KING
I had the pleasure of speaking with Faith Musembi, Producer and Director of Chapter 2 “A Band of Brothers.” Musembi is a Kenyan producer and director whose work includes QUEENS, INCREDIBLE ANIMAL JOURNEYS and CHASING THE RAINS. She is also the founder of the Nuru Film Institute, a Maasai Mara-based training hub dedicated to cultivating the next generation of African wildlife storytellers.
From “The Lion King” director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios executive producer Mike Gunton comes the extraordinary true story of a lion cub named Kio on his epic journey to become a king. Filmed over four years, this sweeping saga of family, hope and courage follows Kio as he grows from a vulnerable cub into a powerful leader. Along the way, he faces loss, exile and fierce rivals in a fight to survive.
Combining cinematic storytelling with groundbreaking natural history filmmaking, this series captures the complete coming-of-age story of a lion — and the remarkable making of a king.
EP. 2: CHAPTER 2. A Band of Brothers. Against all odds, Kio survives a buffalo attack, but his troubles are far from over. At 12 weeks old, he is the youngest and most vulnerable member of the pride. To have any hope of one day becoming king, he must earn the respect of his older brothers and find his place among them. Just as he is finally able to gain their acceptance, the dry season sets in, and food becomes scarce. This leaves Summer to make an extraordinary decision to protect Kio’s future.
Air Date: 08/19/2026
Premiering August 19 on National Geographic and streaming August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu, LION is an unprecedented natural history series that follows a single lion cub, Kio, on an extraordinary journey from vulnerable cub to king. Four years in the making and filmed across nearly 1,400 production days, the series combines National Geographic’s signature cinematic wildlife storytelling with Favreau’s mastery of character-driven narrative to deliver a real-life saga of family, power, survival and transformation.
With stunning cinematography, an emotional score led by Academy Award® winner Hans Zimmer and Bleeding Fingers Music Group, and intimate access to one of the Maasai Mara’s most compelling lion prides, LION offers a true-to-life coming-of-age story that echoes the themes audiences have long loved in THE LION KING.
LION is Executive Produced by “The Lion King” Director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios Natural History Unit’s Mike Gunton, With the Score Composed by Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Music
LION Airs Aug. 19 on National Geographic and Streams Aug. 20 on Disney+ and Hulu
From “The Lion King” director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios executive producer Mike Gunton comes the extraordinary true story of a lion cub named Kio on his epic journey to become a king. Filmed over four years, this sweeping saga of family, hope and courage follows Kio as he grows from a vulnerable cub into a powerful leader. Along the way, he faces loss, exile and fierce rivals in a fight to survive. Combining cinematic storytelling with groundbreaking natural history filmmaking, this series captures the complete coming-of-age story of a lion — and the remarkable making of a king.
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- (Interview) National Geographic’s Lion: From Cub to King – Faith Musembi (Producer & Director Chapter 2)
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